Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont Mining: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Indonesia?

By

Ben Levisohn

March 28, 2014 2:46 p.m. ET

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By

Ben Levisohn

March 28, 2014 2:46 p.m. ET

Indonesia--and its desire to make more off of its natural resources--has been a thorn in the side of both Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX) and Newmont Mining (NEM) this year. That could be changing.

Reuters reports that Indonesia reached a deal with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold to resume copper shipments. The deal would require Freeport to build a smelter in exchange for losing an export tax.